The Basics of Winter Vegetable Gardening

By Pauline Go

When it comes to winter vegetable gardening, remember that it involves more harvesting than growing. Basically you should be looking to grow vegetables in late summer so that you can harvest them in winter. Make sure that you protect the vegetables from the cold and do not water them. The water in the plant cells freezes during winter and ends up killing the plants. That is why stop watering your plants the moment the first frost falls.

However, the vegetables that you can harvest in winter should be hardy ones. That is why you should be looking to harvest kohlrabi, broccoli or cabbage. Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and squash cannot grow in winter as they are summer vegetables.

Some hardy vegetables that can tolerate cold are leek, kale and vit, which is a salad green. Asian greens like Bok Choy can also tolerate the cold well. Other vegetables that can tolerate cold are lettuce, radishes, turnips, peas, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. In fact, lettuce can survive even at temperatures below freezing point.

When thinking about winter vegetable gardening, make sure that you protect your vegetables. What you require are row covers, unheated greenhouses, cloches and garden tunnels. Of course, if the winter is mild, you do not need them. However, if the winter is particularly severe, just double the covering. You can also use a cold frame with an extra plastic covering. But if you ware looking to work in your vegetable garden, you should opt for a greenhouse or hoop house.

The plastic covers that you use will not only protect the plants from the winter winds but will also help to capture sunlight to heat the area. Raised beds are not ideal for winter vegetable gardening as the heat from the beds will dissipate very easily and quickly into the surroundings.

Your aim in winter gardening should be to capture the natural heat from the ground and keep it trapped around the growing area using layers of clear plastic. That is why root vegetables or those that grow close to the ground are ideal vegetables to grow in winter.

About Author:
Pauline Go is an online leading expert in the gardening. She also offers top quality articles like:
Weeds in Flower Garden, Growing Organic Vegetables

For more information on Winter Vegetable Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Basic Necessities and Instructions For Herb Gardening For Beginners

By Lian Vaiphei

It is important you understand it is never too late to take up herb gardening. It is a terrific way to relax, have a good time and enjoy the herbs you create. To get you started on the right track here are some basic necessities and instructions for herb gardening for beginners.

To begin with you need to know what tools are essential to create your herb garden. This may depend on the type of garden you intend on creating, but for the most part the list of ingredients is the same. In all you will need soil, fertilizer, containers, a spade, and of course the seeds or herb plants you will be growing.

Herb gardening for beginners is going to start by placing soil inside of the container. From there you will place the fertilizer in with the soil. This may vary depending on the type of fertilizer you purchase making it all the more important you look at the instructions carefully.

If you have purchased seeds to plan, follow the instructions that are given for the types of herbs you are planting. If you purchased herb plants all you will need to do is follow the replanting instruction, which are given to you with the plant.

Based on the instructions given, make sure you water your herbs on a consistent basis and provide them with just enough light to grow properly. Outside of that, there really is not much to growing herbs inside or out. As long as you follow the directions carefully, herb gardening for beginners is a walk in the park.

Lian Vaiphei is a successful indoor herb gardener. He recommends herb gardening for beginners to get started and be on the right track on indoor herb gardening.

------------------------------------------------------

For more information and articles on Herb Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.